Thread: Cooling issues on my Sentra

My issues:
My car is overheating from lack of coolant circulation. This can be either one or both of two things. Thermostat is out and my car is not circulating because of a block, or, my pump is not pumping.

I replaced the factory thermostat with an El cheapo 8 dollar from advance. Same thing is occurring. ( I did RTV everything into place ) When I filled the car up with coolant, I was getting bubbles coming up the radiator for a while and then it just stopped. I checked out the gauge and it was a 3/4 hot. Turned the car off.

I will grab the old factory thermostat and test that when I get home today to see if it was working. If it was not, I will take out the thermostat that is in the car currently and run it without a thermostat to see what happens.

If this doesn't work I think it may be my pump. Any advice on what I can do to see if the pump is working while on the car?

Also, am I troubleshooting the situation correctly?

I appreciate anyone's feedback.

To make sure your thermostat is working,put it in a pan of water on the stove.Turn the heat on until the water gets hot enough to open the thermostat,and check the temp of the water with a thermometer.I never have come up with a way to check the pump on the car.

Mabe u have a clogged radiator. A water pump usually Isn't the problem. Only when u have leaking weep hole. When your pumps Stops flowing usually the impeller shaft Breaks And causes your Pump, pully; bearings to fall apart, And also the impeller could fall out since it's pressed in shaft. A bad head gasket causes compression into your cooling system and will cause overheating..

Check your radiator
Check in front of your radiator if there isn't anything blocking the condesor or radiator such as a plastic bag Etc.
Make sure your engine fans are working hard.

Last time, my fans never turned on. Was a bit weird.
Ill check my head gasket. I dont think i have a clog in the radiator.

1 way way to check your head gasket is remove your thermostat, refill with coolant, remove all 4 spark plugs, disable your fuel pump and ignition, leave your radiator cap off and put one spark plug at a time and crank your engine and have some one watch if bubbles come out of the radiator. If it does while cranking u have a problem on that cylinder.

Or 2 simply do a compression and leakdown test..

I think I have a air pocket that wont come out. I am going to see if i can have some buddies come over and help me fix this damn thing.

U do have a bleeder screw next to your thermostat and another on your heater hoses (b13). What I do Is remove both of em fill radiator untill water starts squirting out of the bleeders, close them start the car let it warm up and leave radiatior cap off for the extra bubbles to bleed out.

Oh and make sure your temp gauge sensor is working within specs. And hopefully not giving u false readings.

I dont have a bleeder on my heater hose on my 94 B13 Sentra.
I tripple checked. I even have pics. Both are one piece hoses.

your temp sensor might be bad i had the same issue.overheating. After that was changed thermostat got stuck then waterpump went

easiest way i bleed a car is to fill it as much as possible.open your bleeder screw located on factory housing of thermostat.once steady stream lock it up. Get the car warm.get a couple of rags and carefully open rad cap after warm.there will be pressure so while your turning do it slow and aply force down so cap wo.t pop off.once cap is off. rev The engine up and it will start to over flow.once you see no bubbles put thr cap on youre good to go